Liz Cheney's new political advocacy group, Keep America Safe, whose only purpose appears to be to attack President Obama's national-security policies, has posted a short video featuring a few citizens of Standish who are opposed to potentially housing some Gitmo detainees in their local prison. [...]
This is so over the top. Someone put up this billboard in Missouri and a local county GOP Committee is applauding it on its webpage.
I know they say politics isn't beanbag, but I never thought I'd see the day when a major political party effectively endorsed overthrowing our [...]
Interesting advice from a former Reagan adviser who notes the selective rhetoric of a party who has no more credibility than the other, before an 8pm vote on a massive, massive health care bill, the same size as 2005's Medicare Part D debacle. The problem here is if we're making' [...]
When I first saw this, I thought it might be one of those mash-ups that people sometimes make for fake movies, but I'm told that this is a real trailer for an actual documentary about the tea parties, that will be aired on the internet. Not absolutely sure that's accurate,' [...]
Nice people, these "Christian" conservatives. Apparently the internets are lighting up with conservatives' laughter over this t-shirt featuring a bible verse. There are bumper stickers too, with the slogan "Pray for Obama--"Psalm 109:8". If you look up that passage in the' [...]
I'm crazy busy today, but in case you missed her last night, here is the DetNews coverage of Sarah Palin in Grand Rapids in photos and video.
Meanwhile, the person who actually won an election, our President, has been in Asia on a diplomatic trip. White House photographer Pete Souza' [...]
OK, the headline above is a stretch. But if you think the federal government has no interest in rationed health care, take a look at the recent recommendations downplaying mammograms for women under 50.
Says the panel: The "net benefit" of mammograms for women under 50 is small. I [...]
Not much news on the national front this week, unless you care about what Sarah Palin is doing and I definitely don't care. However, I was mildly interested to hear hundreds of people lined up in the freezing cold in Grand Rapids to get bracelets that let them line up' [...]
The must read of the day is this account of the NOLA free health care clinic. Over a thousand people were treated. Most of them hold jobs that don't offer health care benefits and can't afford the premiums in the individual policy market. The article notes just in Louisiana over [...]
Since some people are still worked up over Obama's bow, I'm passing on this latest look at how past presidents dealt with meeting foreign heads of state. It's been widely said that Nixon's greatest accomplishment was opening diplomatic relations with China. Note what he does at 1:24 into this tape.' [...]
I, for one, applaud AG Holder's decision to bring some of the Gitmo detainees to trial here in the US courts. Of course, the debate about this has divided rather predictably along partisan lines with most conservatives dead against it and most liberals favoring the return to adjudicating crimes in [...]
President Obama's honeymoon ended months ago. He doesn't yet go down as a light-weight. But it's time to buckle down or invite the title.
In the area of being firm and decisive, his rating is a lowly 27 percent -- a bottom-feeding pasture where George Bush once dwelled.' [...]
A new study shows "the Greenland ice sheet is losing its mass faster than in previous years and making an increasing contribution to sea level rise." Experts are saying the results, recently published in the journal Science are "very significant and new" showing the ice loss [...]
Didn't take a crystal ball to predict the Obama bashers would go into a tizzy because our President observed Japanese custom and followed diplomatic protocol, by bowing in greeting to Japanese Emperor Akihito. The usual suspects are clutching their pearls and pulling out their rulers to measure' [...]
The Republican National Committee's insurance plan gets more interesting every day. It's not just that their policies covered elective abortions for 18 years, it now turns out that their insurer Cigna also promotes end of life counseling. This would be the exact same counseling that the [...]
The city's hope is in the hands of its people, not elected officials. Detroiters have put too much hope in the people elected and not enough of the responsibility for change on themselves. Detroiters need to look deep at themselves and see where they can make differences in the city [...]
Just had a thought about 2012. Perry/Palin?Literally a Bull/Moose Party?Naturally, my misgivings notwithstanding, but for a political junkie with a challenge, a serious consideration.While Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty or MassCare Mitt Romney seem to be the considered fronts for the GOP (I still [...]
When is the electorate going to learn?
Once again, the legislatures up in Lansing are thumbing their collective noses at the Michigan electorate. In a state with one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, school districts in shambles, economic disarray and a floundering movie industry; [...]
Want to know what's ahead in Detroit at the City Council table? Take a moment to look at the latest edition of Fox 2 News segment, "Let It Rip" (http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/dpp/news/let-it-rip-091112).
Until the voters in Detroit vote responsibly, this is the crap that they will continue [...]
This is interesting. The Business Roundtable (BRT), an organization that represents more than 50 of the nation's biggest corporations, has long been a GOP ally in pushing the Republican agenda on Capitol Hill. But the relationship has soured in recent weeks. The GOPers are mad that the [...]
Fresh off the DetNews twitter feed, a reminder that in today's economy it's good to spend your money on companies located in your communities. According to the Michigan Department of Agriculture, "if each family started spending $10 per week of their grocery bill on Michigan products, we'd' [...]
The RNC covers elective abortions under their own medical plan. While this is likely an oversight of such gargantuan political proportions of "stupid", the response from the RNC spokesperson was telling. From the article:"Informed of the coverage, RNC spokeswoman Gail Gitcho told [...]
Long time readers will recall I've been railing against our insane forfeiture laws for a very long time. Today DetNews gives us yet another reason forfeiture laws should be abolished. Metro Detroit PDs are now using this legalized robbery ploy to balance their budgets. The money raised by this' [...]
Saw this last night and found it interesting. Passing it on without commentary other than to say I'm thinking it might be worth it to see Hoekstra win the governor's race, if only to get him out of DC before he does some really serious damage to our national security.' [...]
The U.S. general in Afghanistan wants 40,000 more troops. One White House option, now shelved, would have sent 30,000.
Watch out for health care reform. If you have a headache, I can see some bureaucrat recommending only three-fourths of an aspirin.
Here for school discipline: Whip the [...]
A pdf copy of Matthew P. Hoh's resignation letter from the Department of State, who is also currently making rounds on the media circuit for publicly stating what many smart folks involved in USFOR-A want to say. Hopefully, people will recognize that differing opinions do stress love of their [...]
One last thought on this Veterans Day. Let's remember that GOP Sen Tom Coburn chose to 'honor' our veterans by keeping an anonymous hold on the Veteran's Benefits bill, thus denying our most heavily wounded servicepeople badly needed relief. Oddly, he had no trouble funding the occupations under [...]
Back during the presidential debates, when now-President Obama spoke on Afghanistan, he spoke militantly, suggesting that he would be willing to go in to the country and engage in military action, including bombing, to win the war. So considering the fortunes of the Afghan campaign, it is important [...]
"He was very swift, very tactical," Burnette told reporters Wednesday outside the Metroplex Adventist Hospital near Fort Hood.Concerned? Yes, you should be. Mako out. [...]
President Obama's critics often accuse him of failing to accomplish enough and sneer at the Democratic party's inability to move legislation through the Congress when they hold a majority on paper. But governance can only happen if the minority party acts in good faith to keep the gears of our [...]
I lost a dear friend and former employer to leukemia in the last year. A bone marrow transplant from a stranger gave him five extra years of life. He lived long enough to see his children marry, to enjoy his grandchild and accomplished many good works in his community in [...]
The United States is at war in two countries, but the pain and suffering in America is so great that people have forgotten the country is at war. People are trying to buy gas, groceries, and pay the rent. They don't have time to dig up the truth on the' [...]
Blackwater, now Xe, authorized spending some $1 million to buy off Iraqi officials, angry about Blackwater shootings.
Some things should not be out-sourced. War and national security are two of them.
Here for blondes, they have more fun.
And here for Xe. [...]
Thanks to all our veterans and current serving military for all you do and have done for our country.
America salutes you on this day and every day. Veterans eat for free at Applebees today and also free meals for veterans at Golden Corral on Mon 11-16-09 from 5:00-9:00pm.
Adding: Videos [...]
Nothing like having your government recognize that health care is a right. Sounds great. No need to pay. Except even governments run out of money, so they find ways to keep you from getting the care you need. Waiting lists. Bureaucratic hoops to jump through. And you thought dealing with [...]
An agency of state government in New Hampshire has agreed to give a loan guarantee to yet another business. That's bad enough. What's worse is that it's being made to a newspaper.
Is anyone concerned about freedom of the press anymore? [...]
Recently, I became aware of two cases that are to come before the United States Supreme Court. At issue is whether or not the Eight Amendment of the U.S. Constitution was violated when Terrance Graham and Joe Sullivan were sentenced to prison as juveniles.
At the ripe old age of 16, [...]
It seems painfully clear that the Congressional Democrats took the wrong lesson from Creigh Deeds loss in Virginia, as evidenced by the health care reform vote. Even today the media is full of stories embracing the wrongheaded conventional wisdom inside the Beltway that the Democratic Party needs [...]
I agree: If you're against abortion, don't have one. But this House bill is enough of a monstrosity without forcing some people to, with explicit taxpayer subsidies, violate their core moral beliefs.
The Stupak amendment, by the way, is roughly equivalent to the Hyde Amendment, which was enacted [...]
I don't want to spend a lot more time on this, but to clarify a couple of points from my last post, the biggest problem with the Stupak amendment is that it discriminates against poor women. As Ezra points out your tax dollars are already subsidizing abortions for wealthier ones.' [...]
When you absolutely, positively, need to crush your business competitors ... get the federal government involved.
UPDATE: I see "refiman1" has taken a page from Libby Spencer's book: When your position is under fire, attack the messenger. But recall that even a blind pig can find an [...]
A little more than a week ago, a group of people held a community meeting over at Canton High School in the Plymouth-Canton Educational Park. The purpose of this meeting was to give those in attendance an update on the progress being made by the communities Strategic Planning Committee for [...]
Let me state at the outset, I am anti-abortion. I wish no woman wanted or needed one. I'm long past the age where unintended pregnancy is an issue. There's no one in my life who's likely to need one. I don't have a dog in this fight but nonetheless, I [...]
Today's the 20th anniversary of the "fall" of the Berlin Wall. It didn't fall as much as it was pushed by the so-called "captive nations" who refused to remain captive, assisted by the moral encouragement of Margaret Thatcher, Ronald Reagan, and Pope John Paul II. (Here's a' [...]
Detroit may benefit from the council districts voters ordered up last week.
The theory is that council members, from a small district, will be more responsive than one elected at large. Perhaps.
But as it stands now in Detroit, most of the power belongs to the mayor. So if garbage [...]
The Obama administration needs a new stimulus plan. The past plan failed to reduce the unemployment rate. The government had to extend unemployment benefits again and again to help families eat in this long, hard economic crisis.
The United States, the world's leading nation, has double-digit [...]
Of course you've heard that after a marathon Saturday session, the House passed a health care reform bill on a vote of 220 to 215, with 39 Democrats jumping over to the No side. One truly courageous Republican, Joseph Cao crossed over to vote in favor. And I say it' [...]
The story with today's passage of a Health Care Reform bill in the U.S. House is not the 1-vote victory for the Democratic Party, but the 39 Democratic defectors and the 1 Republican that sided with the Democrats.
The U.S. Senate is up next and it will be interesting to see [...]
The Stupak amendment just passed on a 240-194 vote. I had hoped I wouldn't see the day when over 60 so-called Democrats would sell out women's health choices. We're a good half hour away at least from a vote on the final bill. So for those of you who are [...]
While I missed a good portion during the dinner rush, I always love when Democrats continue to use "Donut Hole" in their remarks.What I'd like to hear from GOP opposition is a solemn pledge to commit to being not only opposed to the ideas put forth tonight, but also to' [...]
I can't figure out where the GOP stands (past Stupak's rather ingenious strategy).Currently, GOP Reps are complaining about Medicare funding, while complaining that Medicare is bankrupt, and the Dems are talking about Donut Holes being filled, which was the GOP's 2005 Medicare Part D.Let's all go' [...]
Most people outside of Michigan hadn't heard of Bart Stupak until today when they found out what he's trying to do to women's rights. He succeeded in forcing a vote on his Stupak/Pitts amendment that could kill health care reform altogether. The amendment will effectively ban even private insurers' [...]
I am as perturbed as anyone whenever I hear about the consistent low voter turnout election after election in Detroit. In a city that needs as many people as possible to participate in the election process, one has to wonder if the numbers being reported are accurate. Are the percentages [...]
Marathon hearing session going on in Congress about the Health Care Reform bill this weekend. They were at it until past midnight yesterday and they're still going strong right now. You can watch live online at CSPAN. I'm hearing they expect to take a vote around 2:00 this afternoon - [...]
Since my post on the night of the elections with regard to the voter turnout in Detroit, my personal e-mail has been bombarded with the suggestion of people like me moving back to Detroit. My response follows and I sincerely apologize for the length of this post, but it was [...]
This is why it takes so long to get anything done in DC. The House finally passed a bill extending unemployment benefits, and also extending and expanding the homebuyer credit program along with tax breaks for small businesses. It passed after five weeks of wrangling with only 12 no votes. [...]
A couple of under-reported items from Tuesday's elections. I found this news heartening. Kalamazoo voters overwhelming approved a city ordinance banning discrimination against gays. More importantly, following that win, "Speaker Pro Tempore Pam Byrnes, D-Lyndon Township, introduced a [...]
After the initial scramble for details and much needless speculation, the story of the Ft. Hood shooter is becoming a bit more clear. However, it's far from complete. No one knows yet why this man went off the rails. That will be revealed in the months to come when he [...]
"The latest Rasmussen poll found that 42 percent of those surveyed favored the healthcare plan proposed by President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats. That was down from 45 percent a week ago and unchanged from two weeks ago."
-- Reuters
Polls consistently shown that [...]
Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan is named as the initial shooter at Fort Hood today. While I don't want to think about this event in terms of simplistic details, or suspicions based on instinct, a lot of friends have been through Ft. Hood, and I can't help but wonder and hope [...]
Good Lord, this is turning out to be a crazy day. Apparently there's some shooters killing people at Fort Hood in Texas. Situation is of course chaotic and details are sketchy. Also seem to be changing by the moment, but the local newspaper has set up a twitter account FtHoodShootings [...]
What does AARP hate young adults and children?
AARP, the organization that recruits people over 50 years old with enticements such as consumer discounts available for a membership fee of $8 per year, has come out in favor of the monstrosity known as the House health care plan.
Any of the [...]
The head of the Republican National Committee is a man with a black face and a heart that is less than human. He is a man that has sold his soul trying to be elected to a national office. He lost in the elections he ran in but he won [...]
Just when you think the woman couldn't possibly get more unhinged, Michelle Bachmann ups the ante on craziness. For today's PR show, she intends to assemble a mob of Tea Party protesters and storm the halls of Congress in "one last stand" to attempt to kill health care reform.
Although' [...]
I've seen numbers all over the place in the polling on this issue, but a new study by Pew Charitable Trusts Global Warming Campaign showed that 77 % of the respondents favored taking action against climate change while 18 % opposed doing anything, and 5% were undecided.
The article also' [...]
When Doug Hoffman voted, I'm sure he already knew he had won the election. Perhaps not the seat in Congress until 2010, but the will of Americans in his district.Yes, Democrat Bill Owens did actually win, but let's take a look at the numbers.The actual returns, still as of yet' [...]
It's been a while since I've done a zombie lie post, and once again Fox "News" provides the fodder. As the Christian Science Monitor reports:
Speaking on the morning broadcast (see video at the link), Fox News host Martha MacCallum reported that President Obama opted to watch an HBO' [...]
The media seems intent on spinning yesterday's elections as some kind of dire warning to the Democrats and progressive liberals. Maybe they just haven't noticed that Democrats won 5 out of 5 of the last special Congressional elections. And in the remarkably under-reported contest in California, the' [...]
I try not to read any post election analysis before I write my own obligatory observations, but a quick scan of the headlines tells me the major media is drawing the wrong lessons from yesterday's elections. Starting with the governor's races in Virginia and New Jersey -- no this is [...]
Tom Barrow was so courageous to enter the race for mayor of the city of Detroit. He was brave enough to put himself on the line. He did not allow his past to dictate his future. He stepped to the door of doubt and kept walking. He was willing to [...]
Given Tuesday's GOP election wins, reports of the death of the GOP are greatly exaggerated. Akin to years ago, when the Democrats were declared dead after the GOP swept Congress.
Last night's results suggest the obvious: Since they took over in January, Dems haven't done squat except double' [...]
Once again, the voters in Detroit showed themselves to be pathetic when it comes to going to the polls to cast a ballot. Yes, there was a crisp bite of coolness in the air accompanied with a brisk breeze today. However, the sun did shine brightly for most of the [...]
The fact that a public release states the President would rather watch basketball than the will of the people is a double-edged sword.It says that the White House expects Hoffman to roll over anyone in the area, and save Corzine/Christie, a blowout for the newly-reorganized GOP that is recognizant [...]
Politico.com will be holding direct returns from Virginia, New York, etc. in easy-to-read formats. Mako out.
UPDATE: And like a minute in, Mr. Deeds is Toast. By an overwhelming 2:1 margin, Virginia is red again. Wowza. [...]
This current crop of individuals vying for a paycheck ($81,000 a year) on the Detroit City Council should all make one bold statement together."Our election won't change anything."From Mayor Bing to the Council, from remembering whether to call the Clerk Janice or Joyce, 25% of the city' [...]
The city that gave the world Motown and all the big hits in gospel and R&B is once again in for big changes. The city that gave the world the most independent black mayor is in for great change. The city that made blacks feel empowered in ways that other [...]
Building a bit more on the discussion of pricing and the media presentation of policy costs referenced here, Ezra Klein expands on those points in this column. As he notes, the framing of the rhetoric is a powerful tool:
"The stimulus, for instance, was explained as a two-year cost, so [...]
According to the Wall Street Journal, it looks like the House GOP is going to unveil their own health care reform plan after all. You can read all the particulars about what it might include at the link, but more notable is what it doesn't include:
House Republican health-care' [...]
Since Philadelphia Phillie Chase Utley has tied Reggie Jackson for the most home runs hit in a World Series, it would be tempting to suggest that "Mr. October" share his title. But Jackson doesn't have to.
That's because the baseball season has become so ridiculously long that it' [...]
I'm in beautiful Asheville, North Carolina to attend the annual meeting of the State Policy Network.
Here's one item that might surprise those of you who believe in stereotypes of the center-right side of things: There's a fair amount of disgust here with the Republican Party among attendees.' [...]
A poll taken by Inside Michigan shows the good people of the Detroit City Council are falling from grace. The man who was the most popular, Council President Ken Cockrel, is sixth in the latest polling. The man who is promising to turn Belle Isle into a theme park with [...]
DetNews Twitter feed reminding folks that tomorrow is voting day. Make sure you get to the polls or don't complain when the politicians make you unhappy.
To help you make an informed decision on how to cast your ballot, you can find a full report of candidate profiles and analysis plus' [...]
This is good news. Defying dismal expectations, "Ford Motor Co. posted a surprise third quarter profit of nearly $1 billion today -- its first operating profit in nearly two years."
Although sales that were still much lower than before the economic crash of '08, "Ford's third [...]
Not sure why George is blaming the federal government for the shortage of flu vaccine. The feds aren't producing the vaccine themselves. They contracted production out to five different pharmaceutical corporations and they're distributing it just as fast as they get it. Seems to me the pharma [...]
Longtime Ann Arbor resident Metta Lansdale was recently hired as director of the Traverse Area District Library in Traverse City. Her first day on the job is Nov. 2. I talked to her on the [...]
The federal program for producing swine flu vaccine is behind. Officials blame in on manufacturers.
Can't wait for the feds to run a bigger chunk of health care. They've done so well with the war and the economy and all.
Here for Schwarzenegger telling lawmakers where to stick it.
And here [...]
This strikes me as odd. Chrysler is going to offer live TV in its vehicles. Apparently it's still in development and it will be limited to about 20 channels at the roll out. I'm wondering who the target market is for this feature? Meaning why would you want TV in' [...]
It's been alumni week for me. Seem to be running into our former co-bloggers all over the Internet. Longtime readers will recall John Needham, who I believe was with us back during the 2004 election season. He's since given up politics and has just started a new crowd-sourced-recipe-blog: Twitter [...]
Well Happy Halloween to everyone. If you're going out tonight stay safe and if you're driving, slow down and keep an eye out for the little trick-or-treaters who may wander into the road. All the better to enjoy the jack-o-lanterns.
[photo hanna horwarth]
If you're staying home, thanks' [...]
The GOP's spinmeister Frank Luntz met with Republican lawmakers this week to unveil his "new plan for undermining Democrats' health-reform without making the GOP look bad." Or as I like to call it, "How to pretend you're for reform without actually reforming anything." Luntz's' [...]
Libby, how can you write about zombies and not give us a link to Michael Jackon's Thriller video? (I'd embed a link from the official MJ site but it looks like they've disabled embedding).
To ChrisD_in_MI -- great line! [...]
Hitting the DetNews twitter feed for Halloween news this afternoon. Rob Bliss in Grand Rapids is resurrecting his "Zombie Walk" tonight. About 6,000 people left their RSVP on his Facebook page, agreeing to meet in downtown's Calder Plaza. They're hoping to "beat the Guinness World' [...]
It's always been difficult for me to do obituaries and talk about the people whose lives have been so spirited, strident and strong in the past tense. Dave Moore is one of those people. He passed away today at the age of 97.
Maybe you've never heard of him. But' [...]
Do we need health care reform? Absolutely. Will we be better off with what's likely to come out of this Congress? No way.
John Goodman says that under the Senate Finance Committee bill, which is the more "moderate" (!) of the bills under consideration, "everyone will be required [...]
The race for mayor of Detroit never left the shadows of daily politics and scandals. People talked, but not about the race for the mayor. The conversations were all about things in the city that continue to bring shame and suffering.
Tom Barrow tried to tie Dave Bing to it, [...]
The U.S. has been in Afghanistan teaching the world not to spit in the wind or step on Superman's cape far too long. When the World Trade Center was bombed, America wanted to convince any would-be copycats not to enter the United States to do harm.
America has killed enough people [...]
This is a change we can believe in. Our former president, George Bush, never viewed a single one the thousands of fallen heros who were returned home in the dead of night, having sacrificed their lives for a foolish military action he initiated himself. Yesterday, President Obama broke that barrier [...]
While we may not be feeling it on the street just yet, good news on the economy. Third quarter growth "beat market expectations, as consumer spending and new home-building rebounded, signaling the end of the worst recession in 70 years."
The Commerce Department, in its first estimate of [...]
Today was the big day for the release of the current House version of the health care reform bill, I'm hearing that the public option was watered down to placate the insurance industry and conservatives but it still looks pretty good. Full summary at this link but here's some of' [...]
In Florida, Medicare fraud is now a bigger crime than drugs.
Watch CBS News Videos Online
Still think that government is more efficient than the private sector? [...]
(Launched from the Totter to Traverse City)
